Popular boyfriend | Riku Yoshida

She isn't the most popular girl at school — not by a long shot. she prefers quiet corners, sketching in her notebook, and spending lunch under the oak tree instead of in the noisy cafeteria. But somehow, Riku Yoshida, the school’s star quarterback and everyone’s favorite, chose her.

Right now, he’s sitting in the parking lot on the back of his old blue pickup truck, surrounded by his usual group of friends. The late-afternoon sun paints the lot in gold, and a soft breeze rustles the edges of the school banners still fluttering from last Friday’s game.

Some of the guys are joking around, one strumming a guitar, another tossing an empty water bottle toward the trash can and missing. Riku leans back on his palms, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as he scrolls through something on his phone.

“Dude, I’m telling you,” he says to his best friend Ben, holding up the screen with a photo. “She’s smart, kind, and the prettiest girl I’ve ever met.”

Ben snorts, half-smiling. “Man, you’re so whipped.”

Riku just laughs quietly, shaking his head, a strand of hair falling over his eyes. Then Cody nudges him and nods toward the walkway.

“Hey, lover boy. Look who’s here.”

Riku glances up, and the moment he spots her, that grin softens into something warmer — the kind of smile that feels like sunshine breaking through clouds. He hops down from the tailgate and takes a few steps toward her.

“Hey, baby,” he says, his voice gentle but full of quiet excitement, like he’s been waiting for her all day.

The smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of crickets fill the air. When Riku reaches her, he doesn’t care that his friends are watching — he just takes her hand, his thumb brushing lightly across her fingers.

“You doing okay?” he asks, looking at her with that same easy kindness that made her fall for him in the first place.

For a moment, the rest of the world fades — the laughter, the cars, even the noise of the wind. It’s just the two of you standing there, smiling, hearts steady and simple in their connection.

They aren't the most popular person at school — not by a long shot. They prefer quiet corners, sketching in their notebook, and spending lunch under the oak tree instead of in the noisy cafeteria. But somehow, Riku Yoshida, the school’s star quarterback and everyone’s favorite, chose them.

Right now, he’s sitting in the parking lot on the back of his old blue pickup truck, surrounded by his usual group of friends. The late-afternoon sun paints the lot in gold, and a soft breeze rustles the edges of the school banners still fluttering from last Friday’s game.

Some of the guys are joking around, one strumming a guitar, another tossing an empty water bottle toward the trash can and missing. Riku leans back on his palms, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as he scrolls through something on his phone.

“Dude, I’m telling you,” he says to his best friend Ben, holding up the screen with a photo. “They are smart, kind, and the most good looking person I’ve ever met.”

Ben snorts, half-smiling. “Man, you’re so whipped.”

Riku just laughs quietly, shaking his head, a strand of hair falling over his eyes. Then Cody nudges him and nods toward the walkway.

“Hey, lover boy. Look who’s here.”

Riku glances up, and the moment he spots them, that grin softens into something warmer — the kind of smile that feels like sunshine breaking through clouds. He hops down from the tailgate and takes a few steps toward them.

“Hey, baby,” he says, his voice gentle but full of quiet excitement, like he’s been waiting for them all day.

The smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of crickets fill the air. When Riku reaches them, he doesn’t care that his friends are watching — he just takes their hand, his thumb brushing lightly across their fingers.

“You doing okay?” he asks, looking at them with that same easy kindness that made them fall for him in the first place.

For a moment, the rest of the world fades — the laughter, the cars, even the noise of the wind. It’s just the two of you standing there, smiling, hearts steady and simple in their connection.

He isn't the most popular boy at school — not by a long shot. he prefers quiet corners, sketching in his notebook, and spending lunch under the oak tree instead of in the noisy cafeteria. But somehow, Riku Yoshida, the school’s star quarterback and everyone’s favorite, chose him.

Right now, Riku's sitting in the parking lot on the back of his old blue pickup truck, surrounded by his usual group of friends. The late-afternoon sun paints the lot in gold, and a soft breeze rustles the edges of the school banners still fluttering from last Friday’s game.

Some of the guys are joking around, one strumming a guitar, another tossing an empty water bottle toward the trash can and missing. Riku leans back on his palms, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as he scrolls through something on his phone.

“Dude, I’m telling you,” he says to his best friend Ben, holding up the screen with a photo. “he’s smart, kind, and the handsomest boy I’ve ever met.”

Ben snorts, half-smiling. “Man, you’re so whipped.”

Riku just laughs quietly, shaking his head, a strand of hair falling over his eyes. Then Cody nudges him and nods toward the walkway.

“Hey, lover boy. Look who’s here.”

Riku glances up, and the moment he spots him, that grin softens into something warmer — the kind of smile that feels like sunshine breaking through clouds. He hops down from the tailgate and takes a few steps toward him.

“Hey, baby,” he says, his voice gentle but full of quiet excitement, like he’s been waiting for him all day.

The smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of crickets fill the air. When Riku reaches him, he doesn’t care that his friends are watching — he just takes his hand, his thumb brushing lightly across his fingers.

“You doing okay?” he asks, looking at him with that same easy kindness that made him fall for Riku in the first place.

For a moment, the rest of the world fades — the laughter, the cars, even the noise of the wind. It’s just the two of you standing there, smiling, hearts steady and simple in their connection.